Charles Spurgeon Commentary Daniel 6:8

"Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not." — Daniel 6:8 (ASV)

The Babylonians entrusted their king with absolute power; therefore, he could will this or that as he chose. The Persians believed their kings possessed perfect wisdom, and so they never allowed a law to be changed. To do so would imply that the king who made it had made a mistake—something that could never possibly happen.

A modern traveler provides an amusing example. He tells us that a few years ago, one of the later Persian kings declared he would not move from his tent on the plain until the snow had melted from some mountains he indicated.

It happened to be a very late summer, and the snow was slow to melt. Consequently, his gracious majesty had to remain in his tent while his troops were dying from fever in a low, marshy district. This situation continued until men were procured to sweep the snow from the mountaintops so that he could finally move.

It is inconvenient for men to play God; they cannot do so without bringing serious difficulty and danger upon themselves. Darius acted similarly on this occasion.

I never like men who, when they speak a hasty word, declare they cannot alter it. Rash vows are better broken than kept. You had no right to say you would do such a thing; much less do you have any right to do it simply because you said you would.

However, the law of the Medes and Persians could not be altered.